Adding- and multiplying machine



web 24, 1925. 1,530,925

J. W. BLEASDALE ADDING AND MULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed March 27. 1922Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BLEASDALE, 0E JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

ADDING AND MULTIPLYING I/IACI-IINE.

Application filed March 27, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. BLEASDALE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Janesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding andMultiplying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adding machines, and among the objects in viewis to provide an extremely simple, inexpensive and efficient machinewhereby any person understanding how to read figures can add any sumwhen the machine is used as an adding machine, or count money when themachine is used as a cash register with the speed and accuracy of anexperienced accountant.

It is also possible to multiply by means of this device although thedevice is intended primarily for adding.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line l1 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention any desired materials may be used in theconstruction and I do not wish to be restricted in this regard. For thepurpose of cheapness I would preferably use wood as much as possible andin practice this would be advantageous since there is practically nowear upon the operative parts of the device.

My improved machine embodies a drum or casing 1, in the heads 2 of whichis mounted a spindle or shaft 3 upon which are ro tatably mounted aplurality of disks 4. The latter are of a diameter approximately that ofthe drum, which latter is closed so as to completely house the diskswith the exception of a small portion of the peripheries of the diskswhich is exposed to view through an opening 5 formed by the removal of aportion of the convex surface of the drum intermediate the points 6 and7.

Any desired number of disks 4 may be Serial No. 547,035.

employed depending upon the number of columns of figures that may haveto be added, the drum being correspondingly varied in size toaccommodate the disks and I do not limit myself in practice to thenumber of disks used.

In the drawings I have illustrated seven of the disks 4, the disk to theextreme right as viewed in Fig. 1 indicating the cents in units, theadjoining disk indicating the cents in tens, and the remaining disksindicating dollars. The total amount that can be added by the statednumber of disks is 99,999,999, and when the device is used as a cashregister $999,999.99 may be indicated. By increasing the number of diskshigher amounts may be added.

Each of the disks is provided upon its periphery with a series ofradially-projecting frets or pins 8, there being one hundred of theseupon each disk, and said frets or pins are of such length as to enablethem to be easily touched with the finger tip of the operator so as torotate said disks. Each of the disks is also provided on its peripheryalongside the spaces between the frets with a series of numerals from Oto 99 inclusive, each space being thus numerically designated by thenumeral appearing alongside it.

The numerals on the disks should be in two colors, this being importantin order that the sum of an addition shown in the open space may bequickly and easily read. For instance I would have the units in blackfigures and the tens in red.

10 indicates a plate arranged transversely of the drum and hinged at 11to the latter, said plate being provided with a plurality of springfingers or pawls 12 secured thereto at one end, said fingerscorresponding in number to the disks and being arranged immediatelyabove the latter. The free end of each finger is adapted to engagebetween two of the frets or pins of the disk and each finger is arrangedat such an angle that when engaged between two of the frets thecorresponding disk may be freely turned in one direction as indicated byarrow in Fig. 2, but such disk would be prevented from turning in thereverse direction.

For the purpose of enabling the disks to be reset to any particularpoint by turning in a reverse direction, if this be desired, the plate10 may be readily swung upwardly on its hinges sufiiciently to releasethe frets on the disks so that the latter may be rotated reversely.

Secured at one end to the plate 10 are a plurality of curved fingers 13corresponding in number to the disks. These fingers extend downwardlyover and conceal all the exposed numbers 011 the disk except one, whichlatter is immediately adjacent and above a plate or bar 14 secured tothe drum and extending transversely thereof. Each finger 13 carries aseries of numerals from 1 to 9 inclusive, which lie alongside of thespaces between the frets 8.

The plate 14 constitutes a finger rest or stop against which theoperators finger will strike when a disk is being turned thereby andthus prevent any mistake being made by the disk being turned too far.

The plate 10 is further provided intermediate the fingers 13 withdesignations such as the word Cents above the two right-hand disks,while the dollar mark (or the word Dollars if so desired) appears aboveeach of the remaining disks.

For the purpose of audibly indicating when each of the disks has made acomplete rotation, any suitable means may be provided. For instance Iprovide each disk with a pin 15 so located that the same will come intocontact with a lip 16 on a plate 17 bent into V-shape and hung upon theedge 7 of the drum so as to have a pivotal or swinging movement uponsaid edge. The plate 17 has an arm 18 which is adapted to contact with abell 19 carried by the drum. Each of the pins 15 is so located that itwill come into contact with and tilt the plate 17 just as the respectivedisk carrying the pin is about completing its full rotation, said pinoperating to first press against the lip 16 and tilt the plate to causethe arm 18 to be raised slightly above the bell and then clear the lipto permit the plate to swing reversely and allow the arm to drop intocontact with the bell and thus give an audible signal to indicate thatthe disk has completed an entire rotation.

The lip also acts to prevent reverse rotation of a disk after the bellhas been sounded by reason of the pin engaging beneath the lip, thusnecessitating the plate being swung forwardly by means of the arm 18which will cause the lip to free the pin and thus prevent reverserotation of the disk.

The drum may be firmly supported upon a counter or table by any suitablemeans, as for instance a stand or base 20 having rollers 21 upon whichthe drum is supported and adapted to be turned until it is brought intothe most convenient position for the operator.

Before operation, each of the disks is to be turned until the O thereonappears in the open space just above the finger stop 14.

Beginning with the units column place a finger tip between the frets ona disk opposite the number to be added as indicated on the finger 12 andthen move the finger down carrying with it the disk until the operatorsfinger comes to a stop against the plate 14, repeating the operationuntil all the numbers in the column have been added. hen a disk has madea full rotation it has counted 100, the pin 15 strikes the edge 6 of theplate 17 causing arm 18 to strike the bell 19 as before described, the 0then appearing in the open space immediately above the plate 14 as atthe beginning. lVhen the bell is heard one unit is brought down on thedisk of the second higher order and the addition continued as before. i

As the tens in any column are units in the next higher order, the rednumber is carried forward and made the first addition on the next disk.So too, when the last column is footed, the red figure (10s) appearingon the disk is carried to the next disk. The black figures then shown inthe open spaces immediately above the plate 14 will be the total sum,the red figures being ignored in reading.

Any column may be added first or several may be added at the same time.IVhen this is done the s must be carried forward in each case when thesounder is heard and the red figures left until all the columns arefooted. Then beginning at the right carry each red number forward to 100the next column. The black figures then appearing will he. the totalfootings.

hen the device is used as a multiplier, the disks are set at 0 as for anaddition. In operation, proceed exactly as in a simple multiplication,except the mental process of carrying the Os to the next column andfooting the several columns afterward neither has to be done. Inmultiplying units by units, as 9 9z81, bring down the first figure (1)on the first disk (units), and the second figure (8) on the second disk(lOs).

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a drum,a plurality of disks rotatably mounted within said drum, a pin carriedby each of the disks, a plate extending transversely of the drum andhaving a pivotal connection with the latter, said plate being adapted tobe operated by thepin of each disk when about tocomplete an entirerotation, a bell carried by the drum, and an arm on the plate adapted tocome into contact with the bell in the manner specified.

2. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with a drumhaving a portion of its peripheral wall removed to form an opening, asset forth, of a .plu-

rality of disks rotatably mounted Within said drum, a pin carried byeach of the disks, a V-shaped plate extending transversely of the drumand pivot-ally hung upon one of the transverse edges of the aforesaidopening in the drum, said plate having a lip as described, each pinoperating to first press against the lip to tilt the plate and thenclear the lip and engage beneath the same to prevent reverse rotation ofthe disk, a 1 bell carried by the drum, and an arm on' the plate adaptedto come into contact with the bell, all arranged for cooperation as setforth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN WV. BLEASDALE.

